14 Years of History for St Katharine's Morris

 

It all started in 2005, when Kevin Burke along with the Vicar of Irchester, John Simmons, decided it would be lovely to get a Morris side together to dance at the Harvest and Scarecrow festival in the October of that year.

Our original 2005 side consisted of:  Kevin Burke, Lisa Koelink, Georgina Bailey, Ken Pooley, Iain Welters, Dennis Low, Keith Clements, Margaret Clements, Joan Wilson and Miranda Badger

Our first dance out was at the Scarecrow festival, at which time we could not play our own music but relied on a portable CD player.

 

2006 brought new challenges with the Woodford Flower Festival, our first public performance away from Irchester.

We danced there, with Charles and Sandra Kemp joining us for the first time.  Sandra did a fine job as our fool on that day!

Both Ken and Iain decided that they could not dedicate their time to the side, and sadly left.

 

2007 saw us out at the Brigstock Beer Festival,  as well as the Morton in the Marsh show, where we made our first Guinness book of Records attempt.  We managed it, and have a rosette and certificate to prove it!!  Lowie Koelink  (son of Lisa) joined our side, initially as a mascot, but he learnt some dances and was gradually integrated into the team.

At the end of 2007, our beloved friend and Morris man Dennis Low passed away very unexpectedly which was a great shock to all of us.  We attended his funeral at the request of his family, and gave him a fitting Morris salute of an archway of sticks under which the coffin was carried.  The service was a very moving, and it was a very sad time for all of us, our thoughts were with his family.  He is sadly missed, he loved Morris dancing and was extremely dedicated to the side.

 

2008 saw us out and about more, and mixing with different Morris sides.  Charles was now playing the Melodeon, and  Lisa played the recorder and learnt some of our tunes.  Now we could go out anywhere and play our own music and our CD player was redundant. We danced at the Raunds Music Festival too.

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We had a wonderful time dancing at the Milton Keynes Hub by invitation of Cosgrove based Woad Works. We danced on Boxing day at Cosgrove with Woadworks, and spent an excellent but cold day, in their company, dancing, eating and making merry.  Miranda decided that Morris was too much along with the pressure of school, and left us.  Lucinda Rich joined our line up this year.

 

2009 saw changes to our uniform, with better baldricks, bells, ribbons and Katharine Wheel badges. We also made a banner.  Keith made us new bell pads, and Lucinda made us ribbon bands to go around our wrists.

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We were at the Scarborough Fayre this year, and danced in another Guinness World Record attempt at the Largest Morris Dance.  A superb weekend was had, culminating in dancing in the sea.  Brilliant fun!!!   Another visit to the Milton Keynes Hub, and more dance outs.  We also danced at the Waendel walk in Wellingborough and Wellinborough Carnival where we tried to dance around a 3 mile route

Linda Hanscombe joined us in this year.  Georgina decided that Morris was too much along with her college work, and left. 

 

2010 January sees the return of Georgina (Gini) Bailey, and  new members, Emma Smith and Sophie Talbot.  Plus a new dance.

Dance outs at Castle Donington, Midsummer Madness at Milton Keynes and Lincoln Festival

 

2011 We danced out on St George's Day in Rushden followed by Stoke Bruerne on the same evening, Castle Donington, Sheffield Day of Dance, Tiffield, Finedon Fete, Midsummer Madness at Milton Keynes, Lincoln Festival, Irchester Harvest Festival

 

2012 New members Lizzie Blair and David Marriot joined and we danced at Coulon Barn Dance, the Queen’s Jubilee, Thrapston Charter Fair, Castle Donington, and Buxton.

 

2013 We danced out for a Christmas Carol service, Castle Donington, Buxton, Mid-summer Madness at Milton Keynes, Melton Mowbray, the National Day of Dance at Exeter, Lincoln.

 

2014 saw 4 new members join us, Sarah, Rachel, Tracy and Ben. We are now showing off our new and improved bell pads and through the year danced at Northampton Ceilidh, again at Castle Donington, Cambridge, Melton Mowbay, Buxton, 4 different occasions in our own village of Irchester, Braybrooke and Lincoln.

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2015 - 2018 Changes in the side followed the moving of our then Squire Kevin to warmer climes down south. Charles and Lisa have each  taken on the role of Squire and new members have added to our numbers. We have run a school work-shop and have continued performing at many of our regular events. Additional Saturday practice sessions have been scheduled to enable us to include Border style dances to our repertoire.

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2019 To be continued - Why not join us and become a part of our story?

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